Forecasters warn temperatures will drop to below freezing this week as snow is
expected across much of the UK by Wednesday

The first snow of winter has hit the south of England, as forecasters warn more is expected to fall during this week.

Snow, already seen in parts of Scotland, Wales and the north of England in recent days, reached as far south as Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire on Sunday night.

The snow has not settled because the ground is already saturated from the recent storms - bringing a further risk of flooding in the south west.

Sheep on the Yorkshire Moors on Sunday (GETTY)

But forecasters warn by Wednesday the mercury will start to fall to below freezing as colder winds come from Scandinavia, and snow is expected across the whole of the east of England, down to East Anglia.

Showers are forecast for most of the country on Monday and Tuesday, with some snow expected to fall across higher ground including Snowdonia and the Pennines. There are also likely to be thunderstorms in the south.

Charles Powell, forecaster at the Met Office, said: “Colder winds will be pushing their way through from the east from Scandinavia on Wednesday. This will bring rain and a bit of snow along the eastern coast, possibly as far south as East Anglia.”

Temperatures are expected to dip to around 28F (-2C) overnight on Wednesday and Thursday, with light winds forecast.

By Friday rain is expected to return to much of the country, and there is a risk of widespread ice.

Parts of South Wales and Scotland saw snow on Sunday night, and warnings were still in place for these areas on Monday morning.

Severe weather warnings for much of the UK have been issued by the Met Office, with alerts for ice, hailstorms and thunder across much of the country as rain continues and temperatures start to fall.

The Met Office said Hampshire, Dorset and Somerset remain at medium risk of flooding as another day of rain is predicted to hit the regions, where some homes have been under water because of the storms.

The Environment Agency has issued more than 140 flood alerts and 10 more serious flood warnings in the south west, which mean flooding is expected and immediate action is required.

Storms hit much of the country on Saturday and Sunday, with rain and thunder bringing trains between London and the south to a standstill on Saturday evening.

There were also reports of “mini-tornadoes” across Surrey and Warwickshire. Further north, stormy weather caused the Wet Sleddale Reservoir in Cumbria to overflow down the 21 metre high dam wall.

The heaviest rain fell in Wales, where around 0.9ins (22mm) fell during the weekend.

The Environment Agency has been criticised by farmers and Ian Liddell-Grainger, Bridgwater and West Somerset MP, for failing to dredge rivers so they can be maintained properly, reducing the impact of the floods.

Somerset County Council declared the flooding a “major incident” on Sunday, after the Somerset Levels saw water levels rise again, leaving an area around 25 miles square submerged. This allows the council to call on the government and army for help.